Decalcomania assembly and method of making the same



' v1.1 slmaouos 2,424,503 I 113cm Assm! mo IETHOD OF wane was slow Filed Feb. 15, 1945 v 71 522 Z272 [1592301217 521777270270 5 M Patented July 22,1947

SEMBLY AND G THE SAME r OFFICE METHOD Watson A. Simmonds, Chicago, Ill. Application February 15, 1945, Serial No. 578,024

This invention relates to improvements in a decalcomania assembly and method of making the same, and more particularly, to an assembly consisting of a number of decalcomanias for individual and separate applications to various ar-" desirable for use ticles, the assembly being highly in connection with the attachment of revenue stamps to liquor bottles, cigarette packages, etc.. although the invention will have other uses and purposes as will be apparent to one skilled in the art Many states in the United States require the application by the vendor of revenue stamps to liquor bottles, cigarette packages, and other ar ticles. A considerable portion of these revenue stamps are in the form of decalcomanias, rather small in size to permit the application of the entire stamp without obliterating advertising matter on the article or without overhanging the edge of a small article, and extremely fragile. In the past, an objectionably high degree oi'care and tedious labor were essential in the application of the revenue stamps to the various articles to avoid destruction of the stamps, and this work obviously considerably increased the cost of merchandising the articles. practically all cases among the smaller establishments, the decalcomanias were applied by hand with the individual removal and application of a decalcomania stamp, and pure hand application of that character loss due to destruction of the revenue stamps.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an important object of the instant invention to provide a .decalcomania assembly so arranged as to facilitate hand application, small machine application, or application by a relatively large power driven nachine, in a labor saving manner and with no nore than a negligible loss due to destructionof fevenue stamps. r I Another object of the instant invention is the )rovision of a decalcomania assembly so arranged hat a plurality of stamps may be applied in a ingle operation to separate articles. Also an object of the instant invention is the In most cases, and in. a

greatly increased the removed exposing a predetermined number of lI'OViSlOn of a decalcomania assembly in which he stamps are so spaced that a predetermined umber of stamps may be simultaneously applied ach to a separate article, the spacing being in. eeping with the normal spacing of articles when acked in a carton.

A further feature of the invention resides in ie provision of a decalcomania assembly in hich the decalcomanias are so arranged that my may be readily and easily applied to articles l a substantiay continuous operation.

Also a feature'of the instant invention resides l the provision of a decalcomania assembly hich may be handled equally as well in either ieet form or roll form.

' I to the upper 10 Claims. (01. 41-33) Still another object of this invention is the pro vision of a decalcomania assembly which may be supplied-in sheet form with parallel rows ofidecalcomanias, and the sheet may be separated to provide as many rows as desired upon the application sheet.

A further feature of the instant invention resides in the provision of a decalcomania assembly the assembly up to that moment.

Another object of the instant invention is the provision of a decalcomania assembly embodying a number 01 separated decalcomanias, the assemsuperposed sheets held together by the decalcomania material itself, the upper sheet having openings therein through which the decalcomania material attaches to the lower sheet, and when the lower sheet is removed in the usual manner by initially soaking a short period of time, the decalcomanias may be applied to articles through the openings in the upper sheet.

Also an objectof the provision of a decalcomania assembly embodying ing spaced openings therein, .mania material being applied to the lower sheet through the openings, the arrangement being such that the sections of the lower sheet may be removed to expose the decalcomanias for application to articles when desired, each section so decalcomanias. 1

Still another object of the instant invention is the provision of a decalcomania assembly including superposed sheets, the upper sheet having spaced openings therein, and the decalcomania material being applied to the upper sheet and adhering to the lower sheet through said openings, the lower sheet extending beyond the upper sheet to facilitate its removal when it is desired to expose the decalcomanias for application to articles.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a decalcomania assembly embodying superposed sheets of which the upper has spaced openings therein, with decalcomania material applied sheet and to the lower through such openings, the two sheets having a row or rows so of aligned apertures offset from the openings in the upper sheet to facilitate the mechanical feeding of the assembly.

A further object of provision of a new and novel method of making a decalcomania assembly.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantages of the instant invention have been above pointed out, others will become apparent from the following disclosures, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view, with portions omitted, or a decalcomania assembly embodying principles of the instant invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of an assembly of the character of Figure 1 but of a slightly different formation;

Figure 3 is a further enlarged fragmentary top plan view of a more simplified form of a decalcomania assembly embodying principles of the instant invention;

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line IV-IV of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section view of the same character and location as Figure 4. but showing the lower sheet of the assembly removed.

As shown on the drawing:

For purposes of clarity, the more simplified of the illustrated embodiments of the instant invention, namely, the form seen in Figures 3, 4 and 5, will be first described. With reference to these figures, it will be seen that the assembly includes a pair of superposed sheets of material, a top sheet I, and a bottom sheet 2. Preferably, the top sheet I is relatively stifl so as to maintain its shape and have sumcient rigidity to carry the decalcomanias after the bottom sheet has been removed. On the other hand, the bottom sheet 2 is preferably provided with an upper glazed surface, by starching or some equivalent process, but is considerably more porous to liquid than the top sheet. Both sheets may satisfactorily be made from relatively economical and light-weight paper stock.

In this instance, the sheets I and 2 are in the form of elongated strips of a desired or predetermined length. The top sheet 1 is provided with a series of openings 3 therein which may be of any desirable shape depending upon the desired shape of the particular decalcomania when applied to an article. These openings I determine the shape of the applied decalcomania. In the illustrated instance, the openings 3 are in the form of a rectangle, the shape commonly used for a revenue stamp for application to liquor bottles and the like. A decalcomania 4 is applied to the under sheet 2 through the openings 3 in the upper sheet. It will be understood that the application of the decalcomania material may be a continuous strip of material along the upper sheet, but it has been illustrated in the individual application for the purpose of clarity. The decalcomania material applied is more than enough to cover the opening 4', so as to leave some of the material upon the upper sheet and thus bond the two sheets together by virtue of the decalcomania adhesion. In the illustrated instance, the excess material-on the upper sheet is in the form of a marginal portion 5 around each opening 3. Obviously, if so desired, the portion of the decalcomania material to be applied to the article may be thicker than the marginal portion the instant invention is the 8. Also, the decalcomania portion 4 may be decorated in any desired manner.

Of course, when the decalcomania 4 is to be applied to an article, it is necessary to first remove the lower sheet and expose the decalcomania on its under face for application. To aid in the easy removal of the lower sheet, after soaking a short period of time in water or equivalent liquid, the lower sheet is provided with a margin 8 projecting laterally beyond the upper sheet, and this marginal portion may also be provided with an aperture or equivalent opening I to facilitate the withdrawal of the lower sheet by mechanical means if a machine applicator is being used after the soaking. In addition, the lower sheet 2 may be divided transversely as indicated by the dotted lines 8 and 9 in Figure 3 so that the lower sheet may be removed in sections, each section exposing a predetermined number of decalcomanias for application. In the illustrated instance of Figure 3, the lower sheet is divided into sections individual to each decalcomania so that the removal of the section only exposes one decalcomania for application, but it is obvious that any desired number of decalcomanias may be exposed by properly sizing the sections. To aid in quickly determining visually how many decalcomanias will be exposed by the removal of a section of the lower sheet, the marginal portion 8 of this lower sheet may be provided with notches I0 or some similar formation indicating where the dividing lines of the lower sheet occur.

In addition, if the entire decalcomania assembly is in the form of an elongated strip, either flat or rolled, it may be desirable to employ a mechanical feed for advancing the strip to application position. To this end, the strip may be provided with one or more series of apertures ii extending through both sheets so that the entire assembly may be easily fed by sprocket means of the character used to feed motion picture film. The series of apertures II are, of course, preferably disposed to one side of the decalcomanias.

In use, it is a simple expedient to advance the strip forwardly either by hand or by a machine, immerse the assembly in a liquid bath for a willcient length of time to loosen the lower sheet 2, and then remove sections of the lower sheet to expose the decalcomanias in successive order for application to articles. When a decalcomania is exposed, it is a simple expedient to take a suitable instrument, or even the thumb or finger, and press the decalcomania 4 onto the article, the fragile decalcomania material breaking around the edge of the opening 3 in the upper sheet. From the showing in Figures 4 and 5, it will be seen that an angle formation l2 results when the decalcomania material is applied by virtue of the opening 3. It will be noted, therefore, that no contact is made by an instrument or the finger of an operator with the decalcomania itself, until the very instant of application to the article, so that there is little or no chance of ruining a decalcomania by breaking.

In the event a machine is employed for applying the decalcomanias, the strip assembly might be passed through a liquid bath while in continuous motion, and when the point of application is reached, a suitable instrument may descend and force the decalcomania 4 upon the article. As stated above, the spacing of the decalcomanias will preferably be in accordance with the spacing of the articles to which they are attached, such for example as cigarette packages decalcomanias.

in a carton, or liquor bottles traveling along a conveyor. Also, with a machine,-it is a simple expedient for a suitable element to engage the aperture I in the marginal portion of the lower sheet, and withdraw a section of the lower sheet laterally just prior to the application operation.

In Figure 2, I have illustrated a slightly different arrangement of the assembly, wherein the strip assembly has two decalcomanias I spaced side by side. This would be the preferred form of assembly for attaching revenue stamps to packages of cigarettes in a carton, wherein the cigarettes are disposed end up side by side, and the stamps may be so spaced that two decalcomanias may be applied simultaneously but to diiferent packages of cigarettes. It will also be noted, if so desired, that the dividing line 8 separating the lower sheet 2 into segments, may be spaced from a dividing line 9 so as to define a section underlying ten In that event, upon the removal of the 'bottom sheet section, ment, all the cigarette might be simultaneously stamps.

In Figure 1-, I have illustrated an economical packages in a carton provided with revenue method of providing decalcomania assemblies of the character embodied in this invention. In this instance, the bottom sheet 2 may be substantially continuous and provided with spaced series of apertures 1. The top sheet I may be in strip form, that is, a plurality of separate strips may be applied in properly spaced relationship over the under sheet 2, as indicated at I3 in Figure 1. These strips l3 would be spaced apart just sufliciently to expose the row of apertures 1 in what would ultimately be the protruding marginal portions 6 of the under sheet. The decalcomanias may then be applied over the openings in the strips I3 in a desired degree of spacing as above described. The row or rows of feeding apertures ll may be provided through both the top and bottom layers either before or after the application of the decalcomanias as he deemed most expedient. The application of the decalcomanias to an assembly of this character may be a continuous process, both the strips and the under sheet emanating from relatively largesized supply rolls, and the resultant assembly may be severed lengthwise along the lines I4 defining one side of the strips l3 as the entire assembly is advanced to provide individual decalcomania assemblies of the character shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5. The resultant individual assemblies may be left in the fiat, cut off at predetermined lengths, or made in the form of a continuous roll, as may be desired. Obviously, if a double row of decalcomanias is desired as seen in Figure 2, a wider strip l3 having dual rows of openings therein may be provided.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have provided a novel and very easily manipulated decalcomania, assembly. The assembly is desirable for either hand, hand-operated machine or power-driven machine application of the decalcomanias to articles. It will be especially noted that the assembly is of a character to protect the decalcomanias so that there will belittle or no chance of loss of decalcomanias by destruction during application, and with this assembly the decalcomanias may be applied to various articles with a considerable saving in labor and time. In addition, the resultant assembly is economical to construct and the decalcomanias are protected until the very instant of application.

It will, of course, be understood that various with a suitable instru- 'details of construction plied to said top i may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitate pended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a decalcomania assembly, a top sheet of relatively strong paper, a bottom sheet of paper having a glazed surface, said top sheet having a series of openings therein each of. a size substantially equal to the applied portion of a'decalcomania stamp, and decalcomania stamps applied to said top sheet in such manner that the useful part of each stamp projects through an opening and adheres to the under sheet, said sheets being at least partially held together by the applied 2. In a decalcomania assembly, a top sheet of relatively strong paper, a bottom sheet of paper having a glazed surface, said top sheet having a series of openings therein each of a size substantially equal to the applied portion of a decalcomania stamp, and decalcomania stamps apopening and is sheets being held together by the applied decalcomania stamps and provided with aligned rows of apertures for use with a driving mechanism, and said bottom sheet having an aperture therein in a portion thereof projecting beyond the top sheet to facilitate withdrawal of the bottom sheet when it is desired to use the stamps.

3. In a decalcomania assembly, a top sheet of relatively strong paper, a bottom sheet of paper having a glazed surface, said top sheet having a series of openings therein each of a size substantially equal to the applied portion of a decalcomania stamp, and decalcomania stamps applied to said top sheet in such manner that the useful part of each stamp projects through an opening and is applied to the under sheet, and said bottom sheet being cut through transversely on each side of a predetermined number of stamps.

4. In a decalcomania assembly, a top sheet having openings therein, a bottom sheet underlying said top sheet and the openings therein, and decalcomania material applied to said top sheet in a manner to form a border around said openings and project through said openings onto the bottom sheet.

5. In a decalcomania assembly, a top sheet having openings therein, a bottom sheet underlying said top sheet and the openings therein, and decalcomania material applied to said top sheet in a manner to form a border around said openings and project through said openings onto the bottom sheet, that portion of said material in said openings being decorated to form revenue stamps.

6. In. a decalcomania assembly, a top sheet having openings therein, a bottom sheet underlying said top sheet and the openings therein, and decorated decalcomania material adhering both to said top sheet and to said bottom sheet through said openings, said bottom sheet projecting at one side beyond said top sheet to facilitate its removal leaving the sections of material filling the openings to be carried by the top sheet until the sections are applied to articles,

7 '7. In a decalcomania assembly, a top sheet having openings therein, a bottom sheet underby the scope of the ap sheet in such manner that the useful part of each stamp projects through an applied to the under sheet, said lying said top sheet and the openings therein, and decorated'decalcomania material applied to said top sheet and to said bottom sheet through said openings, said bottom sheet being severed transversely to define sections each underlying a redetermined number of said openings, each of said sections having a portion thereof projecting beyond said top sheet to facilitate the removal of that section.

8. In a decaicomania assembly, a top sheet having openings therein, a bottom sheet underlying said top sheet and the openings therein, and decorated decalcomania material applied to said top sheet and, to said bottom sheet through said openings, said bottom sheet being severed transversely to define sections each underlying 15 a predetermined number of said openings, each of said sections having a portion thereof projecting beyond said top sheet to facilitate the removal of that section, and said projecting portion having an opening therein to accommodate a removal instrument.

9. The method of making a decalcomania assembly, including the steps of superposing a pair of sheets of which the top sheet has spaced openings therein, and applying decalcomania material to the bottom sheet through the openings in the top sheet with suflicient material extending beyond the openings to attach the material to the top sheet adjacent each opening as well as to the bottom sheet through each opening.

10. The method of making a decalcomania assembly, including the steps of superposing a pair of sheets of which the top sheet has spaced openings therein, and applying decalcomania material to the bottom sheet through the openings in the top sheet leaving the material contact the top sheet beyond each opening, and cutting the bottom sheet to define sections of a predetermined number oi decalcomanias.

WATSON A. SIMMONDS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent: I

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

